9/11 Stories: FDNY Captain Chip Chipura

Рет қаралды 36,577

3 жыл бұрын

FDNY’er Chip Chipura was at home on Staten Island and had just finished having breakfast with his baby daughters, who were just 9 months old and 18 months old. It was his next-door-neighbor, who Chip called his surrogate mom, that first told him about the plane hitting The World Trade Center. When the 2nd plane hit, Chip knew there would be a recall of all FDNY’ers to report, there was no one to watch his baby girls. His wife was at work and his next door neighbor, his go-to babysitter, had left in her car moments before. Chip could hear the voice of his big brother John in his head: “Your priority is your family. Take care of your children”. So as much as Chip wanted to go the site, he knew he had to stay home.
Chip always looked up to his big brother, a Marine who survived the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing that left more than 300 dead. John Chipura was also a New York City firefighter, and he knew his brother was already at The World Trade Center. So was his sister, Nancy, who worked in one of the towers. Chip quickly learned his sister was ok, when she called him from a nearby store to report she escaped the tower. But his big brother John was among the 1-thousand FDNY’ers who were missing after the collapse of the Twin Towers.
For days, Chip and his family clung to the hope that John survived, like he did in Beirut. John Chipura was just 39 when he and 342 other FDNY’ers were killed.
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Пікірлер: 54

@user-fm8gg7qg9c 3 ай бұрын

Jerry, don't know if you remember 9/10. You both came to Totten for a class. The two of you were like a comedy team while you were signing out, You guys had us hysterical. Fast forward 3 years and you had to come back for re-certification. I waited at the door of 405 for you to come for class, you came in with a friend and I signed you in for class. I will alwqays remember you and John and think of you two often. I wear my John Chipura memorial shirt often. I hope you have been well and continue to thrive. John will always be missed.

@michaelsinclair7253 Жыл бұрын

Before the new tower was opened to the public, my mother was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma. She was scheduled for surgery before the public opening. They announced a day for family members of any first responders to go up, before the official opening. My brothers arranged for us to take Mom up there. They had worked the pile as NYPD. They weren’t fully finished with the final tile and other work to be completed when we went up top. My mother truly enjoyed the chance to see the new observation decks. We had made many trips with her to the Twin Towers when we were children. I was taking pictures of the view from up there. I saw a spot where it seemed that I could slip something behind an unfinished tile facade. I had brought a Beirut Veterans of America patch with me on this day, in honor of your brother. I didn’t know John personally. He did work for a friend of mine in the NYPD. We all lost friends that day. Too many to mention here. That said, John is a fellow Beirut veteran. Our motto is, “The first duty is to remember.” Thus, we paid tribute to John, and remembered him on that day. We continue to do so every day, along with the others who we lost in Beirut. I’ve posted a picture in our BVA group of my hand holding that patch up, with the Brooklyn bridge far off in the background. This is the group that we allow family to be a part of. I believe I’ve spoken to Nancy in the group and have shared that picture with her. My wife’s brother developed lymphoma. Unfortunately, he passed away. She took up running in his honor with Team in Training. The purple shirts at every event, who run to raise money for research into a cure for lymphoma and leukemia. The new drugs that have come out of that research have saved untold lives. We’ve made friends with many first responders who are still alive today, and unfortunately, several who have since passed. I’m from Sheepshead Bay. Living in Staten for the last 18 years. The Marine Corps is a small world. I was at Slutman’s services, with friends of mine who served with him in his reserve unit. The support that you’re continuing to provide to family members such as his, does not go unnoticed. Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s God’s work. Lastly, I’m retired from the city since 2019. Fingers crossed for the fight against the switch to the private Aetna MAPP plan. The effect that a plan such as this would have on first responder medical care in their older years, does not go unnoticed either. Always remember. The first duty is to remember. Tell their stories. Godspeed. SF

@Jason5000 9 ай бұрын

I lost my mom to glioblastoma as well in 2016..... diagnosed in late October of 2015 and she was gone by the middle of January of 16.... just a few short months. God bless 🙏🏻

@fayhunt7285 2 жыл бұрын

#alwaysremember Chip I am from the U.K. I was 18 when I watched this unfold. Now all this time later my kids know about what happened that day and I continue to listen to everyone’s touching testimonies to loved ones. It’ll be with me until the day I die. God bless you and all you do to support your 9/11 families x

@simonacland9028 2 жыл бұрын

Xx♥️🇭🇲🇺🇲

@mellyp3748 9 ай бұрын

Captain Chip, thank you to your brother and your service. I was 18 and babysitting 3 kids from family that day. I will always remember the phone call I got from one of the mothers to please not take her son in to school because one was school age, other two were very small. I will always remember she worked near by the towers but felt the shaking, heard the horrific noises they made, was in terror, trauma, etc. I will always remember the screams of fear over the phone from her and her co workers. I teach my 3 children 17,12, and 9 all about 9/11, we watch the interviews of stories from first responders, civilians, etc. I want them to know what people went through that day, still go through today from that day, and what the world was like before this happened, and what this world changed to because of it.

@MissBe737 2 жыл бұрын

You and your brother are heroes and I am so very sorry for your loss.

@jennifercorley7658 2 жыл бұрын

I am so touched by this interview. Chip, you’re a very warm and dear soul. I’m so happy you were there for the women in your family, who needed you so desperately! I’m also happy to hear you wore your respirator often and heard John telling you to do so! Always remember and keep being there for your sick comrades! Blessings 🥰

@MisfitMadre 2 жыл бұрын

Always remember 🙏

@juliamarin4896 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your story. I'm so sorry for your loss...the loss of your brother. He is watching over you. John Chipura lives on with you and your family!

@valfitz5102 2 жыл бұрын

Always Remember. Thank you for sharing your story, Chip. God Bless you and your beautiful family. John Chipura, we will always remember your heroism. 🙏💙

@timothysader7060 11 ай бұрын

You and your brother are hero’s !!! He gave his life selflessly helping others. What he did was beyond brave ! Thank you so much for showing us what true resilience is, you are a remarkable man !!

@bayoulafourche 2 жыл бұрын

Your family is blessed to have you.

@k.a.l.2130 9 ай бұрын

♡ Always remember ♡

@arizonasgotheat 2 жыл бұрын

We will not forget John Chipura or any of the others we lost.

@mrlaw711 Жыл бұрын

Chip, your brother John was correct. You are a smart guy, and I'm sure your extended family appreciates you. Your attitude exhibits the positive vibes that need to be shared, and that so many people in this country need.

@marynagy8072 2 жыл бұрын

‘Always remember’ for the positive direction

@Nibdsth 2 жыл бұрын

So incredible to have lived through the Beirut barracks bombing…

@colligancrafts660 2 жыл бұрын

John Chipura💜always remember

@MichelleBrown1994 2 жыл бұрын

Always Remember! I think I will remember that phrase, Chip. I was just seven years old when that happened and I lived in Alaska at the time. My sister and I had a list of cities we wanted to visit and sights we wanted to see while we were there. The World Trade Center--or the Twin Towers as we liked to call them--was one of those places we wanted to visit in New York City...some of our dreams died that day along with the people that passed. Now, I have on my list of places to see the Ground Zero Memorial instead. Thank you for telling us your story.

@crystalmontgomery9504 2 жыл бұрын

John Chipura lives on - thank you for sharing your story- your brother was your protector and I feel like you are carrying on by protecting his memory! I will never forget! Thank you- John (also my father’s name) & Chip!

@thomashelm3252 Жыл бұрын

Bless you chip and your family for your sacrifice I was in Beirut in 83 as well such a touching story God bless you an your brothers sacrifice sempre fi with abiding respect an affection

@michaelsinclair7253 Жыл бұрын

You know our motto of the BVA. “The first duty is to remember.” SF

@dianemitchell1717 2 жыл бұрын

You seem like you are in a good place and have a peace within. I am happy for you and your family. I hope your sister will find that peace.

@helenf.7221 9 ай бұрын

6 weeks from being married? Wow I can’t even imagine. That’s when you send out your invitations and put on the final touches of the wedding. She must’ve had her dress and decorations all picked out already. My heart breaks for her

@PHOENIX2027 Жыл бұрын

Love to protectors of NYC, always wished I could be a firefighter, I'm 41 way to late lol. But respect to you and your family.

@sharonwhiteley6510 Жыл бұрын

I wish more people would remember this: "We can't CHANGE a part of history. We can look back; but, we can't go back."

@rgkavendek 2 жыл бұрын

I will “Always Remember”, Chip!! God Bless you, your amazing brother, John and the rest your family. Thank you so much for sharing!! 😊🇺🇸

@sophi2266 2 жыл бұрын

Bless you and your family. Thank you Sr for sharing with us part of your life.

@pamkessler5381 9 ай бұрын

I had 3 VCRs going all day recording different news channels to capture this tragic history as it happened.

@kelseycoyote6576 9 ай бұрын

We all remember all of you with love and honor. These interviews are vital for the younger generation to understand what happened that day and all the years after.

@fluxerflixer1 2 жыл бұрын

God Bless you sir. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

@janegreen5301 8 ай бұрын

Thank you. I will remember.

@madeleinejohnston4790 9 ай бұрын

PRAISE ALMIGHTY GOD FOREVER AND EVER, IN THE PRECIOUS NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, AMEN

@taylorrussell3158 2 жыл бұрын

Never forget

@rodddymck 2 жыл бұрын

I am not religious. I am The opposition in reality. If you’re a Christian, you have to believe that God is responsible for everything. So the idea of thanking God for survival when theoretically he brought the terrorist, the planes, the destruction and in the first place is the heights of the ridiculous. If you can utilize that to keep yourself grounded, and your family, knock yourself out. I support that. But when these huge tragedies occur, thanking God just sounds completely insane. In 1998, I lost 12 friends in two years to aids. I was NOT an IV drug user and I was in a monogamous relationship. That’s what saved my life. I do not thank God for my survival. The responsibility, and the glory goes to me. I am not crapping on anyone’s religion, but I will say that the reason why you, he, this gentleman is surviving and thriving it’s because of him. All the credit goes to him. No one else. I’ll see a surgeon work on a person for seven hours and save their life. The first thing they’ll say is praise the Lord. Thank the author of every disease in every element, not the doctor. The doctor gets the glory as far as I’m concerned. This gentleman gets the glory. He is an amazing person and I will not give credit to anything else. An amazing person. No credit is due to anyone else.